In December quarter 2004, the trend estimate for the number of cattle slaughtered remained steady at 2.0 million.

The trend estimate for the number of calves slaughtered in December quarter 2004 fell by 2% to 220,000. This was the lowest estimate since the series began in September quarter 1979.

In December quarter 2004, the trend estimate for the number of pigs slaughtered fell to 1.3 million. This was the seventh consecutive quarterly decrease and the lowest quarterly trend estimate since September quarter 2001.

The trend estimate for chicken meat production rose by 3% in December quarter 2004, to a record 188,000 tonnes.

NOTES

CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE

There are no changes in this issue.

FORTHCOMING CHANGES

There are no forthcoming changes.

ABBREVIATIONS

ABS

Australian Bureau of Statistics

ML

megalitre

t

tonne

UHT

ultra heat treated

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Frank Costin on Hobart (03) 6222 5838.

LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTERED: Trend

CATTLE (EXCLUDING CALVES)

The trend estimate for the number of cattle slaughtered in December quarter 2004 remained steady at 2.0 million.

CALVES

The trend estimate for the number of calves slaughtered in December quarter 2004 fell by 2% to 220,000. This was the lowest estimate since the series began in September quarter 1979.

SHEEP AND LAMBS

In December quarter 2004, the trend estimate for the number of sheep slaughtered fell by 3% to 2.7 million. The number of lambs slaughtered rose slightly to 4.1 million.

PIGS

In December quarter 2004, the trend estimate for the number of pigs slaughtered fell to 1.3 million. This was the seventh consecutive quarterly decrease and the lowest quarterly trend estimate since September quarter 2001.

MEAT PRODUCTION: Trend

BEEF

In December quarter 2004, the trend estimate for beef production remained steady at 528,000 tonnes.

MUTTON AND LAMB

In December quarter 2004, the trend estimate for mutton production fell by 3% to 56,300 tonnes, and the estimate for lamb production fell slightly to 82,900 tonnes.

TOTAL RED MEAT

The trend estimate for red meat production remained steady at 772,000 tonnes in December quarter 2004. A small increase in beef production was offset by small decreases in mutton, lamb and pig meat production.

CHICKEN MEAT

The trend estimate for chicken meat production rose by 3% in December quarter 2004, to a record 188,000 tonnes.

LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS: Trend

WHOLE MILK INTAKE BY FACTORIES

The trend estimate for whole milk intake by factories in September quarter 2004 remained steady at 2.5 billion litres.

BROKERS AND DEALERS RECEIVALS OF TAXABLE WOOL

The trend estimate for wool receivals by brokers and dealers for December quarter 2004 fell by 3% to 116,000 tonnes.

LIVESTOCK EXPORTS: Original

EXPORTS OF LIVE SHEEP

Live sheep exports fell slightly to 840,000 in December quarter 2004. A 6% fall in unit value (down to $64.24) saw the gross value of live sheep exports fall to $53.9 million.

EXPORTS OF LIVE CATTLE

In December quarter 2004, live cattle exports fell by 24% to 130,000. While higher unit values (up 11% to $725.45) partly offset the reduction in numbers exported, the gross value of live cattle exports fell by 16% to $94.4 million.